The Power of a Wonderful Mentor

Heidi and Augusta met during a wood firing at the Reitz Ranch during the end of his residency there in 2020. A surprise firing, fueled by free time during the pandemic, Augusta and Heidi worked shift together firing the train kiln. A friendship quickly formed, and Heidi invited Augusta to come work at AMOCA after his time at the Reitz Ranch ended. Augusta packed up and moved to California for what was supposed to be a two month visiting artist residency, and turned into a 6 month residency under the Wingate Grant. Heidi facilitated this wonderful opportunity, and gave Augusta the chance to develop an exacting firing schedule for AMOCA’s largely un-used soda kiln. Heidi and Augusta collaborated extensively, making over 20 collaborative works together, many of which are bound for a future wood kiln. To the work, Augusta brings technical expertise in throwing large scale vessels on the potter’s wheel. Using hand building techniques, Heidi has an intuitive approach in creating elegant attachments for the pieces which tell a story. Over the past three years, the intergenerational duo have demonstrated at ceramic studios, exhibited their work in galleries across the US, and continue to expand their portfolios with new collections. 

Follow her work at https://www.instagram.com/heidikreitchet/